First Encounter
Hearing that my assigned Savior had arrived, I hurried to the Candle Square lobby.
Lisa said I'd recognize her right away... hmm, what was it again?
Ms. Lacy is a Dragon from the Eastern Continent.
And just between us, she's actually a legendary author!
I doubt there's anyone in NOA who hasn't read at least one of her books while growing up.
I heard she's lost a bit of her spark lately, though...
But that doesn't change the fact that she's an incredible writer!
That's right. She's a Dragon from the Eastern Continent and a famous author.
Since she wouldn't advertise that she's an author, the easiest way to recognize her must be her Dragon features.
Thou have such an interesting aura, child.
Startled by the sudden voice, I turned to see a woman I'd never met before, lounging lazily on a sofa as she looked my way.
What caught my attention wasn't her posture, but the horn on her forehead, shaped like that of an Eastern dragon.
Are you Lacy?
And thou must be the one destined to serve as my Journey Captain.
Still, even knowing who I am, thou dost not bother with honorifics? Quite the bold little child thou art.
Thou may not realize it, but I've watched the moon rise and fall more times than thou couldst ever count.
So next time, thou shalt address me as Ms. Lacy. Or Lady Lacy, if thou prefer.
I'll go with Ms. Lacy, then.
Oh? Thy nerve is admirable, if a tad foolhardy.
Very well. I do like people with a bit of backbone.
But enough of that...
Finishing her words, Lacy rose from the sofa. In the blink of an eye, she was suddenly in front of me, examining and lightly prodding different parts of my body.
Hmm...
W-what are you doing?!
Hold still. Why dost thou flinch so?
Because you're touching me!
I am merely checking something. No need to worry. I have no improper interest in a child like thee.
Hey, wait! Not there!
Tch! I told thee to stay still! If it bursts, it won't be my fault.
Bursts? What'll burst?!
Startled, I tried to pull away, but I couldn't move an inch.
In the end, I gave up resisting and stood there for several minutes, enduring the curious stares of passing maids.
Finally, Lacy pulled her hand away.
I thought I sensed an unusual energy in thee. Something not of this world.
But now that I look closer, 'tis surprisingly small and faint.
S-small?!
Did you hear that? She called him "small"!
Figures! Somehow, I just knew!
I-I was kind of hoping otherwise, though...
...Judging by the murmurs around me, a misunderstanding had already taken on a life of its own.
I'm not sure what she's talking about, but...
...I'm not small.
Oh, but thou art. Verily.
Her firm tone only made the crowd's murmurs grow louder.
A Dragon is sensitive to energy. I can tell.
Hmm... How best to describe it... Ah, yes.
Thou art like a barren desert. One that may have been an ocean long ago.
What didst thou do to it? What could possibly make thee shrink, nay, shrivel up so?
How disappointing. I had such high hopes...
Hopes...?
I meant that thou art unfit to be the protagonist of my next story.
Thou hast heard that I am a writer, hast thou not? The Observer in the black uniform should have told thee.
I became an official Savior to find someone extraordinary enough to inspire my next tale.
I assumed the Journey Captain who guide Saviors would be a remarkable individual—unique enough to spark my imagination.
When I first laid mine eyes on thee, I thought my intuition was right. The energy around thee was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
But now, seeing how small it's become... Tsk, how disappointing...
Enough with the "small" and "shriveled" talk already!
By the way the maids were whispering, it was clear the misunderstanding was rampaging wildly.
But worry not. I'll turn that desert back into an ocean.
H-how?
Through training, of course.
With proper training, I shall shape thee into someone worthy of starring in my next story.
I couldn't respond at first, too confused to process what she meant.
Wait. I'm the Captain, and Lacy's my Journey member...!
If anyone's meant to be trained, it's her, not me!
And yet, here she was, declaring that she'd be the one to train me. I wast—I mean, was—completely taken aback.
There is no time to waste. We only have a year, so thy training starts now.
Only a year...?
For a long-lived Dragon like Lacy, a year must feel like no time at all.
For humans, though, it's far from short. With that in mind, I followed Lacy to the training grounds, still feeling unsettled.